Worried that a lump on her left breast might be malignant, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo decided to go under the knife on July 1 at Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City to have it removed, the physician who performed the operation told the Inquirer.

Raul B. Guanzon, a cosmetic surgeon, said Ms Arroyo was “in the pink” of health after an hour-long “excision biopsy” successfully removed the lump on the left side of her left breast.

Two conclusive tests showed that the two-centimeter lump was benign. “She’s glad she’s out of it,” said Guanzon, whose clients include other politicians, socialites and show biz personalities.

Guanzon said two biopsy tests were done—a frozen section and a histopathology—to determine whether the lump was malignant.

“Frozen section is, after you take out the mass, you bring it to the laboratory and see if it is benign or malignant,” he said. This test lasts 20 to 30 minutes.

“Immediately we’ll know if it is benign which was what happened. Then on the following day, they cut sections of the tissue for further exams. There was a formal (histopathology) report after a day that the mass was really benign,” Guanzon said.

At first, the President was worried about the mass, according to the doctor.

“(A)ny woman who feels something there … a lump should be worried, so we suggested for her peace of mind to have it removed and then examined, he said.

“Of course, even if you’re not the President, if a lump is discovered and you’re waiting (for the test results) … I mean it’s like a sword of Damocles waiting to fall on you,” he added.

Guanzon said it would have been a different story if it was malignant. “But it turned out to be benign, and after the mass was removed, we just closed it, and then that’s it,” he said.

The Inquirer was able to trace Guanzon at his clinic in Libis, Quezon City, after a source at Asian Hospital and Medical Center said he performed the biopsy.

In pink of health

Asked about the President’s health, Guanzon agreed to be interviewed to dispel rumors about her health.

“She’s very healthy. The country has nothing to worry. Our kababayan (countrymen) have nothing to worry because the President is in the pink of health. She’s fit to govern. More than fit to govern,” he said.

Guanzon said that the President could go on a marathon and jog with anyone anytime she wanted to, and that she was “very conscious about her health, even her diet.”

Guanzon noted that Ms Arroyo was working at her desk after the short procedure. “In fact, she wanted to go home immediately but we just wanted her to rest overnight,” he said.

End all rumors

The lump could have formed due to hormonal imbalances and could happen to women at any age, according to the cosmetic surgeon.

“It can even come at a very early age. Even it is found when you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s. So, it’s common at any age,” he said.

Guanzon declined to comment when asked about the breast implants of the President, insisting that “all her tests were OK.”

“She passed all her tests, even her Gyn test. Her cardiologist also confirmed she was OK. There’s nothing to worry. So let’s put an end to all these rumors,” he said.

After initially denying it, Malacañang admitted that the President had breast implants done in the 1980s.

Asked why Malacañang was not forthright about Ms Arroyo’s condition, Guanzon said the Palace apparently did not want to alarm the public.

“I think they were really not hiding it. They just wanted to know the results before telling the public about it,” he said.

Mammogram

Guanzon said the lump on the President’s breast was discovered during a mammogram done before her recent foreign trip.

“Every year, she does her regular general checkup and this was the first time that it was noted in the tests,” the doctor said.

He said the lump could be felt when manually examined. “It was (only) around two centimeters but it caused the President to worry. That’s why, when she came back (from the trip), she conferred with us and she wanted it removed and at the same time do a biopsy,” he said.

He said he was shown the results of the mammogram and other tests a day before Ms Arroyo returned to the country on June 30.

“It just happened that she was coming from abroad and was going on self-quarantine, so she took advantage of the time while staying in the hospital,” he said.

Mike Arroyo

The President’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, was present at the hospital while their eldest son, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, arrived after the biopsy was over, according to the cosmetic surgeon.

“Yes, the First Gentleman was there all the time. He was relaxed and very rested. While I said she was worried, the President was very calm when talking. She was listening to what we were discussing and also the First Gentleman was also listening,” Guanzon said.

Asked if the President was given local or general anesthesia, Guanzon said: “No. We put her to sleep because, if it’s local, it maybe painful, so it’s better to put her into sleep because we can get the tissue without discomfort to the President. Immediately after, she was awake.”

Tense

He said the atmosphere outside the operating room was tense before the results of the frozen section came out because it could have gone either way.

“Once we were sure that it was benign, everybody was relaxed,” he added.

Guanzon said that six doctors and several nurses were present when the biopsy was done at 10 a.m. on July 1. Besides himself, also present were the President’s gynecologist, cardiologist and three anesthesiologists.

“She was being watched because we’re not operating on an ordinary person. She is the President and we wanted to make sure that it was safe,” Guanzon said.

President’s request

“Of course, when I heard I was operating on the President, I was a little bit tense but, when it came, I think the atmosphere was calm like any ordinary operation we do,” he added.

It was the first time he operated on the President. Guanzon was contacted by the gynecologist before Ms Arroyo’s return to the country because he knew the First Family.

“She requested me through her OB/Gyn. Actually, it was her OB/Gyn who said that the President wanted to talk to me,” Guanzon said.

Guanzon, who has been practicing cosmetic surgery for 20 years, is a fellow of the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery, a diplomate of the Philippine Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

He is also a consultant at De Los Santos Medical Center and Asian Hospital and Medical Center. A brochure from one of his clinics had testimonials from actor Alfred Vargas and recording artist Jessa Zaragoza.